Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 218 - Finance companies, auto dealers, adjustment companies and collection agencies.
218.22 - When department to license salvage dealers.

218.22 When department to license salvage dealers.
(1) The department shall issue a license to the applicant for a motor vehicle salvage dealer's license upon the receipt of a properly completed application form accompanied by the fee required under sub. (2) (c) or (d), upon being satisfied that the applicant is financially solvent or that the applicant has furnished a bond, or other adequate collateral as security, of not less than $25,000 under conditions provided by s. 218.0114 (20) (b), and of good character and:
(a) If the application is for renewal of an existing license, upon being satisfied that the applicant has complied with and will comply with this subchapter;
(b) If the application is for an original license, upon being satisfied that:
1. The applicant will comply with this subchapter; and
2. The proposed site or operation will comply with all laws, the rules promulgated by the department and the locally applicable zoning or permit requirements, before beginning operations, including all laws, rules and local requirements already enacted as promulgated as of the date of application and scheduled to take effect at a later date.
(2)
(a) A motor vehicle salvage dealer's license entitles the licensee to carry on and conduct the business of a motor vehicle salvage dealer during the license period.
(b)
1. The department shall promulgate rules establishing a license period.
2. The department may promulgate rules establishing a uniform expiration date for all licenses issued under this section.
(c) Except as provided in par. (d), the fee for a license issued under this section equals $75 multiplied by the number of years in the license period. The fee shall be prorated if the license period is not evenly divisible into years.
(d) If the department issues a license under this section during the license period, the fee for the license shall equal $75 multiplied by the number of calendar years, including parts of calendar years, during which the license remains in effect. A fee determined under this paragraph may not exceed the license fee for the entire license period under par. (c).
(2m) License fees collected under this subchapter shall be deposited in the transportation fund.
(3) The department may deny, suspend or revoke a license on any of the following grounds:
(a) Proof of financial insolvency or other unfitness.
(b) Material misstatement in application for license.
(c) Filing a materially false or fraudulent income or franchise tax return as certified by the department of revenue.
(d) Willful failure to comply with any provision of this section or any rule promulgated by the department under this section.
(e) Willfully defrauding any retail buyer to the buyer's damage.
(f) Willful failure to perform any written agreement with any retail buyer.
(g) Failure or refusal to furnish and keep in force any bond required.
(h) Having made a fraudulent sale, transaction or repossession.
(i) Fraudulent misrepresentation, circumvention or concealment through whatsoever subterfuge or device of any of the material particulars or the nature thereof required hereunder to be stated or furnished to the retail buyer.
(j) Employment of fraudulent devices, methods or practices in connection with compliance with the statutes with respect to the retaking of goods under retail installment contracts and the redemption and resale of such goods.
(k) Having indulged in any unconscionable practice relating to said business.
(L) Having charged interest in excess of 15 percent per year.
(m) Having sold a retail installment contract to a sales finance company not licensed under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163.
(n) Having violated any law relating to the sale, distribution or financing of salvaged parts.
(o) Failure to comply with this subchapter.
(3m)
(a) The department shall deny, restrict, limit or suspend a license if the applicant or licensee is an individual who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, or who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857.
(b) The department of transportation shall suspend or revoke a license if the department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the licensee is liable for delinquent taxes. A licensee whose license is suspended or revoked under this paragraph for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
(c) The department of transportation shall suspend or revoke a license if the department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the licensee is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. A licensee whose license is suspended or revoked under this paragraph for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.
(4)
(a) The licensor may without notice deny the application for a license within 60 days after receipt thereof by written notice to the applicant, stating the grounds for such denial. Within 30 days after such notice, the applicant may petition the division of hearings and appeals to conduct a hearing to review the denial, and a hearing shall be scheduled with reasonable promptness. This paragraph does not apply to denials of applications for licenses under sub. (3m).
(b) No license shall be suspended or revoked except after a hearing thereon. The licensor shall give the licensee at least 5 days' notice of the time and place of such hearing. The order suspending or revoking such license shall not be effective until after 10 days' written notice thereof to the licensee, after such hearing has been had; except that the licensor, when in its opinion the best interest of the public or the trade demands it, may suspend a license upon not less than 24 hours' notice of hearing and with not less than 24 hours' notice of the suspension of the license. Matters involving suspensions and revocations brought before the department shall be heard and decided upon by the division of hearings and appeals. This paragraph does not apply to licenses that are suspended or revoked under sub. (3m).
(c) The licensor may inspect the pertinent books, records, letters and contracts of a licensee. The actual cost of each such examination shall be paid by such licensee so examined within 30 days after demand therefor by the licensor, and the licensor may maintain an action for the recovery of such costs in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(5) No salvage dealer licensed under ss. 218.205 to 218.23 shall be licensed as a dealer under s. 218.0114 at his or her salvage dealer location, provided that nothing herein shall prohibit licensing and transacting of both businesses at the same location where the salvage operations are physically separated.
History: 1975 c. 288; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1373m, 1374, 1654 (7) (a), (e); 1977 c. 415; 1979 c. 110 s. 60 (13); 1981 c. 347 s. 80 (2); 1983 a. 192; 1987 a. 351; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 316; 1993 a. 16; 1997 a. 191, 237; 1999 a. 31; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 177; 2013 a. 36; 2021 a. 239.

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